Flash light



Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL C. ZIESCHANG, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

' FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed November 6, 1925. Serial No 67,314.

To all co/ om it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL G. ZIESCHANG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to flashlights, and more particularly to portable lighting devices of this character, my object being the provision of a simple inexpensive arrangement of this character which may be utilized as an ornament 1n connection with tables, talking machines, radio apparatus and the like, and which may be easily and conveniently manipulated and effectively and efficiently utilized.

More especially my invention proposesa box-like portable flashlight having a lid and an arrangement of circuit forming elements therein including certain parts disposed on and carried by the lid whereby when the latter is in open position the circuit is broken. The lid moreover has a movable contact member by which the circuit forming elements of the lid may be connected and disconnected and the circuit thus opened and closed without raising the lid. Certain other features including a novel convenient arrangement of circuit forming elements within the box body in the interests of economy, simplicity and durability, will better appear from the following detailed description, referring to the accompanylng drawings. a

In the drawing, which illustrates my present invention and forms a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side view illustratlng one of the possible applications of the invention in use;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the body of the box with the cover or lid removed;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken approximately on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken approximately on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal section through the lid or cover; and

Figure 8 is a detail longitudinal section edge with detachable fastening means 13 of suitable character to normally hold the cover or lid tightly down upon,'and in closing relation on, the body 10. v

The box body 10 Which is preferably rectangular, has in one end wall 14 a reflector 15 provided with a lens 16 and an inner socket 17 for thereception of a bulb or lamp 18, and the socket 17 has an inner upstanding contact piece 19 in contact with a transversely disposed contact wall 20. This wall 20 and a wall 21 adjacent to the opposite end of the box body form a pair of conductors between which a Z-shaped conductor wall 22 coacts to support a pair of batteries 23 and 24.

The batteries 23 and 24 are held in place by spring clamps 25, battery 23 being in contact at one end with conductor wall 21 and atits opposite end with the end portion 26 of the Z-shaped wall 22, while the battery 24 is in contact at one end with the other 4 end portion 27 of wall 22 and at its opposite end with conductor wall 20.

As seen in Figure 8 however, the above arrangement may be slightly varied to do away with the Z-shaped wall by placing the batteries 23 and 24 in end to end contact with one another between the conductor walls 20 and 21. i

Mounted upon the lower surface of the lid or cover 11 are two longitudinally disposed contact pieces 28 and 29 whose inner adjacent ends are spaced apart and whose outer ends are respectively engageable with the upstanding contact member 19 and the upper edge of the conductor wall 21 when the cover or lid is lowered to closed position.

The cover 11 has moreover a slot 30 bisecting the inner end of contact piece 29 and in this slot, a pin 31 ,is disposed. Upon the upper outer end of pin 31 aknob or handle 32 is secured, and upon the lower inner end thereof a contact piece 33 is disposed which when the pin 31 is shifted in one direction, bridges the inner ends of the contact pieces 28 and 29 and thus closes the circuit through the batteries in series for lighting the bulb or lamp 18.

In use, the base of the body 10 is preferably covered with a strip of felt or like material to avoid scratching or otherwise marring an article of furniture, for instance a talking machine upon which it may be disposed in order that light be thrown horizontally upon a desired portion thereof whenever necessary. lVith my improved flashlight it is simply necessary to slightly shift the knob 32 for this purpose.

, In addition, with my improved device it becomes a simple matter to remove the batteries and insert new ones when necessary and it is obvious that as the raising of the cover or lid 11 shifts the contact pieces 28 and 29 away from the wall 21 and member 19, completion of the lighting circuit is prevented until the cover or lid is again lowered and secured in closed position.

My invention proposes a simple economical device which is capable of ornamental appearance, and which may be effectively and efficiently utilized for the purposes set forth.

I claim 1. A flashlight including a box forming therein a battery compartment, upright conductor walls fixed within the box for the reception of batteries in contact therewith, a bulb socket fixed through one wall of the box and in contact with one of said walls, aif upright contact member in connection with said socket, and a cover for said box having contact pieces movable with the cover into and out of engagement with said contact member and the other conductor wall.

2. A flashlight having a box-like holder including an upwardly opening body having therein a battery holding compartment, spaced apart conductor walls fixed within said body to receive batteries in contacting relation, a bulb socket mounted in one wall of the body in contact with one of said walls and having an upstanding contact member, and a cover for the body having contact pieces engageable with said contact member and the other conductor wall and also having means for connecting and disconnecting said contact pieces.

3. A flashlight having a box-like holder including an upwardly opening body having therein a battery holding compartment, spaced apart conductor walls fixed within said body to receive batteries therebetween and in contacting relation therewith, a bulb socket mounted in one wall of the body in contact with one of said conductor walls and having an upstanding contact member, a cover for the body having a hinged connection therewith, a pair of contact pieces carried by the cover and movable therewith into and out of connection with the said contact member and the other conductor wall respectively, and a sliding contact element carried by the cover and movable to connect and disconnect said contact pieces with respect to one another.

4. In a. flashlight of the character de scribed having an upwardly opening body and a cover hinged thereto whereby to permit of ready access to the body, circuit forming conductors including members carried by the cover and other members within said body, the said body members including a pair of spaced apart conductor Walls and a Z-shaped conductor wall between and spaced from said first named walls and forming juxtaposed battery compartments between its end portions and the opposite first named walls, as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

PAUL o. ZIESCHANG'. 

